Film reel can



Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILM REEL CAN IWilliam Wilson, Helsinki, Finland Application December 5, 1940, SerialNo. 368,588

3 Claims.

This invention relates to filmreel cans and has for an object to providean improved construction wherein a coiled film is constantly held in itsnormally wound position when in the can. Another object of the inventionis to provide a film can which may receive a coiled film or a reel andfilm with certain parts arranged to hold the film against unwinding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a film can provided witha resilient tongue or spring having one end connected with the wall ofthe invention, a film and reel being shown stored in the can;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through Fig. 1 approximately on the line 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a resilient member disclosing certain features of theinvention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of a film candisclosing a modified form of tongue structure. I

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates a canbody and 2 a cover.

The can body I is preferably made of metal and has an upstanding wall 3over which telescopes the flange 4 of cover 2. The structure justdescribed is in common use today and, therefore, forms no part of thepresent invention except in combination.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a reel 5 is fitted in the can body and a coilof film 6 is wound on the reel. It is to be understood that the reel isa well-known structure now in common use and the film is also aconventional film. It has been found that films when placed in a canwill unwind to a large extent and the outer portion will press againstthe wall 3 so as to make it more or less diificult to remove the reelfrom the can body. This is particularly true where a coiled film isplaced in the can body without first being wound on a reel. To overcomethis and other difficulties, the structure shown particularly in Fig. 3has been provided. This structure is applied to the can body as shown inFig. 1 and functions to constantly holdthe film in-its proper woundposition. ;As shown in Fig. 3,

there is provided a member Tof flexible material,

as for instance, flexible sheet metal. This member is provided with abody 8 formed with a pressed-out tongue 9, whereby an opening I0 isleft. The tongue 9, at the point H, merges integrally into body 8, whilethe free end i2 is slightly curved and extends outwardly so that it willbe nearer the center of the can body than the remaining part when thedevice is in use, as shown in Fig. 1. The ends of the body 8 are bentdown to present oifset end members I3 and M and on each of these endmembers one or more prongs or spurs I5 are provided. By reason of theoffset portions or shoulders 13 and I4, there is provided a space inwhich a humidifyingpad I6 is placed. This pad is placed between the body8 and the wall 3. It will, therefore, be seen that the pad I6 is clampedin place and the moisture therefrom is allowed to enter the space I!whereby a proper humidifying action is secured. If desired, the devicecould be used without the pad'and the spring or tongue 9 function tohold the film 6 in its proper coiled position. The wall 3 is providedwith suitable apertures through which the spurs or prongs extend. Thesespurs or prongs are upset or riveted at I8, whereby the member I isfirmly clamped to the wall 3.

In Fig. 4 a slightly modified construction is provided wherein themember 1 is completely eliminated and the wall 3 is cut or pressed outat H! to form a tongue 9'. The tonguein this formof the inventionfunctions in the same way as tongue 9 in Fig. 1. The opening I9 is notobjectionable because the flange 4 of cover 2 fits completely over thewall 3 and thereby provides a complete metal enclosure for the film,which tenclosure is requiredby law in certain counries.

When it is desired to remove the reel and film, the operator merelygrasps the reel at any desired point and pull the same from th can. Ifdesired, the operator may depress the tongue or sprin 9 with one of hisfingers. Usually the reel fits reasonably loose and may be grasped atpoint 20 and, in a certain sense, be swung out of the can body so thatwhen removed in this manner it is not necessary to manipulat the spring9. However, when the reel is placed in position in the can body or whena coiled film is placed in the can body free of the reel, the tongue 9must be pressed toward wall 3 until sufiicient space is left for theinsertion of the reel or the separate film. The tongue 9 is thenreleased and the parts automatically assume the position shown in Fig.1.

During transporting of the film it is naturally shaken up more or lessand, consequently, becomes loose and unwound. By reason of the action ofthe spring 9, the film will not become unwound even though it is shakenup to an appreciable extent, whereby it is in good condition to be usedas soon as removed from the can.

I claim: 1

1. A film can including a can body, a member sulting by reason of thetongue being pressed therefrom.

2. A film can having in combination, a device secured to a wall of thecan within the same for preventing unintentional unwinding of the film,said device including a member having an opening therein; and ahumidifying pad held in place by said member by reason of the manner inwhich said device is secured to said wall and so that said pad may exudemoisture through said opening.

3. A film can having in combination, a device comprising a piece ofresilient sheet material cut made from resilient material positioned insaid 15 ber and said wall with the center portion thereof exposedthrough the opening in said member reand formed to provide a memberhaving an opening therein, and a resilient tongue integrally connectedat one end with said member; means engaged with said member and a wallof said can to fixedly secure said device in place within said cansothat said tongue functions to prevent the unintentional unwinding of thefilm, and a humidifying pad arranged between said member and said Wallheld in place thereby and so that said pad may exude moisture throughsaid openin%.

. WILLIAM WILSON.

